The super insulating foam in the video below is very impressive, but so is the confidence of the guy demonstrating it. How many of you would pile some foam up in your hand, then put a 7,000 degree welding torch over it? Not impressed enough? After a 20 second burn, he then proceeds to eat the foam.

Typically insulating foams aren’t edible and contain chemicals and fire retardants you never want to release into the environment, let alone consume. The fact this foam insulates so well against both heat and cold, and is biodegradable, makes it a very desirable solution for all types of products.

Beyond the video, very little is known about this foam. Based on the sign on the wall, this is a foam developed by the Aarmourtherm Foundation, which already researches and produces fire resistant paints, coatings, and wall insulation. So they clearly know what they are talking about when it comes to stopping heat and cold.

The guy happy to torch his hand says he’s been eating the foam in demonstrations for the past 5 years, so it isn’t exactly new and looks to be safe. That 5 years could account for ongoing testing before this becomes a real product.

Greenpeace has been campaigning to get harmful chemicals, and in particular fire retardants out of products for a number of years now. The organization regularly highlights the worst offenders in its guide to greener electronics.

If this foam can also be used in solid form, or at least added to plastic and metal casings, then it could make our gadgets much more environmentally friendly in the near future.

The next major breakthrough is somehow combining this with that superhydrophobic spray so our clothers never need to be washed, help keep our body temperature regulated, and never set on fire.